How to Decorate Vintage Suitcases

So you've found a great piece of vintage luggage, but it needs a little work. Great news--it's not hard to turn it into a unique piece that you won't have trouble finding on the airport baggage carousel.

Things You'll Need

Vintage luggage piece

Vacuum

Cleaning solution

Glue Gun

Paint or stain

Decorative Items; trim, tassels, sequins, mirrors, etc.

Figure out what you have. Is the piece leather, plastic, or canvas? This might make a difference when gathering the decorative materials.

Clean the piece outside and inside. Use a vacuum to get into the cracks of the piece where dirt and dust may have been sitting for a long time. Use color-safe bleach or another disinfecting product to wipe down the surfaces. If the bag is leather, use a leather polish instead of wiping it with the bleach and water.

Determine what you want to do with the piece. Does it need to be a different color, or just need some bling? Consider paint, added fabric, stencils, or glued-on flowers or mirrors.

If you're going to change the color, you can use spray paint, or, if the bag is leather, you can use a leather rub or stain.

A simple stenciled bird or flower in the middle of the largest portion of the bag, with a row of sequins or ribbons around the edges of the bag can make a big statement. Also, painting a suitcase a wild new color can give new life to a bag.

Also, consider whether the inside of the bag needs to be revamped, or can stand as-is. If it's not in good shape, you'll need to plan to decorate that too.

Buy supplies. If you've decided to add fake flowers or other items to the outside, be sure to get a glue gun. Buy the right glue for the surface you will be working on. Spray paint works well for some surfaces, and goes on evenly, though a leather rub or stain can give a leather bag a more natural look. If you are painting the piece, get painter's tape too, to cover up the handles and edging.

Don't forget about the inside of the bag. Buy enough fabric to cover what you are replacing. Take the fabric out of the inside and take it to the fabric store with you, to be sure you have the right amount.

Decorate the outside. If you are painting the entire outside, cover the handle and edging with painter's tape. Give it ample time to dry before adding other decorations to the outside, like sequins or ribbon. Remember that anything you glue on should be given plenty of time to set before you move the piece around.

Refurbish the inside. If you've done any painting or gluing of the outside, there may be bits that got into the cracks, and into the piece. That's why refurbishing the inside of the bag last is a good idea. A glue gun will come in handy for gluing new fabric to the inside. Be sure to measure the proper amounts by placing the fabric inside the chosen area and marking it.

Use a strand of new piping or other trim on the corners and edges, to give the fabric a finished look.